What is ANZAC Day?

21 Apr 2017

With the many long weekends and public holidays in April this year, it’s easy to lose sight of the significance of such marked dates. However, ANZAC Day is one of the most important national days in Australia as it marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. It is a solemn day where Australians remember those men and women who have served in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping. ANZAC is an acronym that stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

For many Australians the day allows them to reflect on how fortunate they are that their forbearers made such a monumental sacrifice to ensure the safety of their country and its people. For an international student in Queensland, this is a fantastic event to learn about Australia’s history and to better understand the Australian culture. The ceremonies are informative and quite moving and it is an opportunity for everyone to join together and share in commemorating the courageous soldiers who gave up so much.

You might hear people talk about ‘The Spirit of ANZAC’ – it is an intangible thing. It is unseen, unpredictable, an unquenchable thirst for justice, freedom and peace. This phrase is frequently used to describe particular actions by, and qualities of, people. However, despite being intangible, the Spirit of ANZAC is a cornerstone which underpins the Australian image, way of life and indeed is an integral part of our heritage.

There are a number of ways you can get involved in this day in Brisbane OR see further below for an event finding tool to find the vent closest to you:

ANZAC Day Student Service. This ceremony is conducted every year in Brisbane's ANZAC Square prior to ANZAC Day itself, running from 10 o'clock until noon. It involves hundreds of South-Eastern Queensland primary and secondary school students in a very moving and solemn commemoration observance. The 2017 event will take place on Monday, the 24th day of April.

Dawn Services. The dawn services take place at 4:28am at the Shrine of Remembrance, Ann Street. It’s a formal and solemn ceremony in which people pay their respect.

ANZAC Day Parade. The Parade starts at 10:00am Tuesday the 25th April 2017 from the corner of Adelaide and George Streets Brisbane CBD. There are others around the city of Brisbane.